Automobile Recall: BMW, VW announce recalls over fire hazards

West Palm Beach, FL—A potential fire risk has prompted both BMW and Volkswagen to recall certain vehicles. BMW is recalling their 1 Series cars, and Volkswagen is recalling Routan vans, as reported by the Orange County Register.

Model years 2008-2011 of the 1 Series cars are being recalled because of an issue with the insulation surrounding the seat-belt pretensioners. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said if a crash were to occur, the insulation around the component could overheat and catch fire.

The exact number of BMW vehicles involved in this recall has not been reported. BMW will be sending out a formal mailing with instructions on how the problem will be rectified by the dealer. Anyone with further questions or concerns can contact BMW at 800-525-7417.

About 15,902 Volkswagen Routan vans from model-year 2009 are also being recalled. The vans were built with an improper wiring harness, which can create a condition where the hinge bracket for the sliding door can cut through the wiring insulation, causing it to overheat and ignite.

Volkswagen will also be sending out a formal mailing to all known Routan owners with instructions on how the problem will be fixed. The mailing is expected to be sent out on June 20. Owners can contact VW at 800-822-8987.